Kukemssa Pirates MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Human Pirate |
| Released | 1996-10-08 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Mirage |
| Set code | MIR |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
| Number | 71 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Jock |
Text of card
If Kukemssa Pirates attacks and is not blocked, you may choose to have it deal no damage to defending player this turn. If you do, gain control of target artifact that player controls.
". . . pirates gambled with a djinn and lost the thing more dear than gold." —"Love Song of Night and Day"
Cards like Kukemssa Pirates
Kukemssa Pirates bring a unique twist to the realm of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. They share similar traits with cards like Rishadan Cutpurse, which force opponents to sacrifice a permanent whenever they attack or become blocked. However, Kukemssa Pirates stand out by specifically targeting artifacts in opponents’ control upon dealing combat damage.
Coastal Piracy is another card worth mentioning; it emphasizes the pirate theme and benefits you whenever a creature you control deals damage to your opponent, allowing you to draw a card. Though it does not directly impact your opponent’s board like Kukemssa Pirates do, the card advantage potential is significant. Lastly, Daring Saboteur bears resemblance because it can become unblockable for a cost, ensuring damage to the opponent and drawing a card, akin to Kukemssa Pirates’ disruptive ability upon successful damage.
Overall, while there are several pirate-themed and disruptive cards in Magic: The Gathering, Kukemssa Pirates’ precise focus on artifact disruption provides a specialized tool for players looking to dismantle an opponent’s artifact strategy effectively.
Cards similar to Kukemssa Pirates by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Kukemssa Pirates card brings the tactical edge of potentially gaining card advantage. By involving itself in combat and surviving, you may gain control of artifacts from your opponent, adding more resources to your side of the battlefield without expending extra cards from your hand.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana or tokens, Kukemssa Pirates can indirectly accelerate your resources. By commandeering your opponent’s artifacts, you can harness their abilities or potential mana contributions faster than typical summoning methods would allow.
Instant Speed: Although the Kukemssa Pirates itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, it synergizes well with cards that do. Supporting your pirates with instants that protect or buff them during the combat phase can ensure they survive encounters and fulfill their artificer’s plunder ability, keeping you ahead in the race for board dominance.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Kukemssa Pirates forces you to discard a card whenever it deals damage to an opponent. This can be a significant downside, particularly in games where you’re already struggling to maintain a healthy hand size. Losing card advantage in this way can leave you at a deficit compared to opponents who are not forced to discard.
Specific Mana Cost: The Pirates come with a specific mana requirement that includes two islands (blue mana). This restricts the card to primarily blue or blue-inclusive decks, potentially limiting its versatility. If your mana base isn’t stable enough to consistently produce blue mana, these pirates may end up stranded in your hand.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a four-mana casting cost, Kukemssa Pirates can be somewhat costly for the effect you receive. In a game where tempo is crucial, spending four mana on a 2/2 creature that might not survive long enough to generate value can put you behind your opponents who may be playing more impactful cards at the same cost.
Reasons to Include Kukemssa Pirates in Your Collection
Versatility: Kukemssa Pirates is a unique card that serves multiple roles within decks focused on creature control and unorthodox combat strategies. Its ability to potentially steal opponent’s artifacts gives it a surprising level of utility in various gameplay scenarios.
Combo Potential: This card complements strategies revolving around continuous control of an opponent’s board. In conjunction with cards that allow for tapping and untapping creatures, Kukemssa Pirates can repeatedly trigger its stealing effect, shifting the balance of power in your favor.
Meta-Relevance: With artifacts often playing a key role in many decks, having a card that disrupts your opponent’s artifact strategy can be a game-changer. Kukemssa Pirates offer a proactive approach to dealing with artifact-heavy opponents and can serve as a formidable threat that requires an immediate answer.
How to beat
Kukemssa Pirates is a card that demands particular attention from its opponents in Magic: The Gathering. With its ability to potentially take control of opponent’s artifacts when it deals damage, it urges players to adopt a strategic approach. An efficient way to counteract this seafaring threat is by ensuring they never land a successful hit. Utilize cards that manage and restrict creatures such as those with “tap target creature” effects or abilities that remove a creature from combat.
Many players opt for spells that can outright remove Kukemssa Pirates from the battlefield. Spells with destroy creature effects or those that can exile it, are especially valuable in this scenario. Another approach is to preemptively defend your artifacts with hexproof or shroud capabilities, thereby nullifying the pirate’s ability.
Further, considering Kukemssa Pirates’ reliance on combat for effectiveness, altering the combat phase dynamics could immensely help. Employing fog-like effects to prevent all combat damage or playing creatures with deathtouch that deter attackers serves well in protecting your artifacts. Overall, understanding Kukemssa Pirates’ game plan and taking measures to disrupt their strategy is key to mastering the game when facing such a menace on the high seas of MTG.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Kukemssa Pirates MTG card by a specific set like Mirage, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.
For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.
Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.
Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Kukemssa Pirates and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Kukemssa Pirates has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Kukemssa Pirates card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2013-04-15 | An ability that triggers when something “attacks and isn’t blocked” triggers in the declare blockers step after blockers are declared if (1) that creature is attacking and (2) no creatures are declared to block it. It will trigger even if that creature was put onto the battlefield attacking rather than having been declared as an attacker in the declare attackers step. |